Moving up a weight class shouldn’t be a major obstacle for Center Grove wrestler Riley Rust, who knows a thing or two about moving.
Born in Fort Riley, Kansas, Rust, whose father Ryan is a command sergeant major in the United States Army, had also lived in California, Washington, Texas and Alaska before moving here as a sophomore.
“I definitely miss all of the states I’ve lived in, but I’m really happy we moved here,” Rust said. “It’s elevated my wrestling a lot.”
As a freshman, Rust won a state championship at 126 pounds while attending Monroe Catholic High School in Fairbanks, Alaska. The state finals were held at Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, a seven-hour drive south of the family’s home in Fort Wainright.
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Following a year of settling into his new environment, Rust put in the work necessary to make it to the state semifinals at 145 pounds as a junior.
Rust finished with a 29-9 record, losing to JaJuan Anderson of Warren Central, 10-4, in the semi and then Avon’s Jaden Reynolds, by way of a third-round fall, in the third-place match at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Anderson starts his senior season ranked as the state’s No. 1 wrestler at 152 pounds, with Rust right behind him in second.
“Riley has grown up a lot as an athlete. I feel he can wrestle with anyone in the state,” Center Grove coach Maurice Swain said. “He’s starting to wrestle a lot smarter and with a lot of confidence. Riley is a strong kid who works really hard, and, on top of that, he’s fearless.
“He doesn’t try to win matches by one point. He’s always trying to put points on the board.”
Standing just 5-foot-4 3/4, Rust doesn’t benefit from a leverage advantage in the majority of matches. He makes the most of his low center of gravity and sticks to what he does well, and more often than not he’s the wrestler having his hand raised at the end.
Rust is one of three returning Trojans who made it to state last season. The others are juniors Hayden Watson (third at 132 pounds) and Drake Buchanan (sixth at 182).
“I’m really excited about this season,” Rust said. “There’s going to be a lot of good competition this season. I’ve been wrestling dudes that are taller than me and bigger than me, so I’ve been doing this my whole life.
“Last year felt good, but just making it to state wasn’t the goal. Not winning a state title definitely hurt.”
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<strong>Center Grove Trojans</strong>
Coach: Maurice Swain
Last season: Runner-up at Mooresville Sectional, fourth at regional and semistate, 11th at state meet
Key returnees: Lou Gattone, Sam Hester, Sam Howe and Riley Rust, seniors; Drake Buchanan, Bryce Crump, Owen Green, Michael LaRocca, Cade Putzek, Michael Tharpe and Hayden Watson, juniors; Tommy Claiborne and Hyatt Yeager, sophomores
Top newcomers: Noah Clouser, Drew Mills, Reese Courtney, Nate Johnson, Charlie LaRocca, Kaden McConnell and Tyler Schott, freshmen
What to expect: The Trojans don’t lack for numbers, with a solid group of returnees joined by a promising freshman group. Watson and Rust advanced to the state semifinals of 132 and 145 pounds, respectively, while Buchanan was sixth at 182. This trio is expected to lead what could be a top-five team in the state by season’s end. “We’ve got a good group of guys that have been working hard for a long time,” Swain said. “We’ve got a number of guys who can get on the podium, but they have to go out there and get it done. It’s a pretty balanced team with experience in both the heavier and lighter weights.”
<strong>Franklin Grizzly Cubs</strong>
Coach: Jim Tonte
Last season: Won Mooresville Sectional, third at regional, ninth at semistate
Key returnees: Jake Bechert, Harris Eason, Tyler Fuqua, Noah McCann and Jalen Ward, seniors; Jude Barger, Ethan Jeffery, Jacob Johnson and Dayson Lashlee, juniors; Caleb Wyss, sophomore
Top newcomers: Sam Allen, Caleb Ingram and Nolan Skaggs, juniors; Luke Bechert and Ryan Million, freshmen
What to expect: The Grizzly Cubs sent four wrestlers to the state meet, and all but one return this season. The experience of the upperclassmen, some of whom have competed at major venues since they were ninth-graders, will lead a deep veteran squad with its sights set on acquiring numerous medals in February. The addition of Allen, a former Brown County wrestler who made it to the second round of the Evansville Semistate a year ago at 285, makes Tonte’s second Franklin club that much better. “They kind of snuck up on some people last year, but now everybody knows,” Tonte said. “We’ve got good seniors, and the juniors understand they’re kind of the difference-makers in our program. We’re excited about the younger kids, too. They just need some mat time.”
<strong>Greenwood Woodmen</strong>
Coach: Jay Yates
Last season: Sixth at Mooresville sectional, 11th at regional, 26th at semistate
Key returnees: Eli Ross, Ethan Stover and Anthony Walker, seniors; Zach Leber and Tyler Maxwell, juniors; Scott Raker and Gavin Rice, sophomores
Top newcomers: Anthony Maupins and Tyler Wiggin, sophomores; Oren Fiesel, Chase Gray, Ayden Harter, Gabriel Folco and Landon Maxwell, freshmen
What to expect: The Woodmen were dealt a huge hit recently when Walker, the eighth-place state finisher at 152 pounds last winter, underwent rotator cuff surgery and is likely out for the season. Greenwood still maintains a good nucleus of experienced wrestlers, though it will have to insert a number of freshmen into the lineup. “Even though we’re young, they’re working extremely hard,” Yates said. “I see some of the older guys leading them. Ross, Leber and Stover have all been to regional, and they’re keeping everyone hungry.”
<strong>Indian Creek Braves</strong>
Coach: Pat Dowty
Last season: Seventh at Bloomington North Sectional, 12th at Bloomington South Regional, 45th at semistate
Key returnees: Aiden Johnson, Brandon Murray and Caden Ringer, juniors; Brayden Bruner, Matt Buzzard, Jackson Heaston and Carson Ringer, sophomores
Top newcomers: Lance Butler, Phoebe Dowty, Brody Goforth, Garrett Johnson, Jackson Neibert, Hannah Seitzinger, Bruce Weir and Jack Wilkerson, freshmen
What to expect: Only a sophomore, 106-pounder Heaston leads the way after advancing to regional in his first varsity season. Johnson, Carson Ringer, Bruner and Murray all won first-round sectional matches in their respective weight classes last season. “This is a really young team,” coach Dowty said. “My goal is just to get them to improve every day and have fun with it. If I can retain these (freshmen), by the time they’re seniors it could be a very tough group because there’s a good group behind them.”
<strong>Whiteland Warriors</strong>
Coach: Anthony Meister
Last season: Ninth at Mooresville Sectional, 10th at regional, 33rd at semistate
Key returnees: Gilbert Tinoco and Ryan Williams, seniors; Eli Brooks, Joey Buttler, Blake Driver, Keegan Grandinetti, Caleb Hall, Andre Merritt and Jakarrey Oliver, sophomores
Top newcomers: Collin Johnson and Eli Scalf, seniors; Brayden Johnson, Vincent Tinoco and Cooper Williams, sophomores; Landon Combs and Scott Harden, freshmen
What to expect: As freshmen, Brooks, Buttler and Oliver were all county champions, constructing a sturdy foundation for the program’s future. Brooks and Buttler both made it to the second round of the Evansville Semistate at 106 and 113 pounds, respectively. “I definitely like where we’re at as a team,” Meister said. “We didn’t lose any kids and we gained some, so we’re going to build on what we accomplished last season.” The Warriors will have to wait a little while to do so; due to quarantine, they won’t make their season debut until Dec. 9.
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